Method of improving efficiency in ruminants

Abstract

Disclosed are methods of repartitioning nutrients in ruminants. Serum concentrations of serum insulin, serum urea nitrogen, serum glucose, and serum growth hormone in ruminants were varied by feeding specific protein supplements and an otherwise negative energy diet. Improvement in body condition and body weight was concomitant with reduced milk production and calf weight.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of re-partitioning nutrients and decreasing weight loss in ruminants on a negative energy diet comprising the steps of: a) selecting protein dietary supplements from the group consisting of feather meal, blood meal, cottonseed meal, and mixtures thereof;   b) administering said selected protein dietary supplements to the ruminants to produce a ratio of concentration of insulin to a concentration of growth hormone of 0.075 or more; and   c) maintaining a negative energy diet.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected protein dietary supplements comprise feather meal.